By: De’Jah Seabrooks, Follow South Jersey Intern
SOUTH JERSEY – The K-12 teacher shortage in the USA is a complex issue with some immense consequences. Estimates suggest a national shortage of at least 54,000 vacant teacher positions according to Statista.
Some causes of the shortage throughout the nation have come to three major similarities: Teachers are experiencing burnout from demanding workloads, disciplinary issues with students throughout kindergarten to 12th grade, and income. The national median teacher salary in the US is $65,000 according to the National Education Association, whereas the national median for a single person to live comfortably is around $85,000 according to CNBC.
This as well as the ongoing effects the Covid-19 pandemic has had in schools, from challenges with e-learning and lack of student engagement, caused a majority of teachers to leave their positions.
The US Department of Education is aware of these rising vacancies and is trying to implement strategies to help on a national scale to boost the retention of previous teachers as well as attract recruits. Some of those strategies include:
- Financial Incentives: Such as student loan forgiveness programs, signing bonuses, and competitive salaries are being offered to make teaching more financially attractive to incoming employees.
- Support for Educators: Initiatives like mentorship programs, mental health resources, and reduced student-to-teacher class sizes to improve working conditions and address teacher burnout.
Experts believe that addressing the teacher shortage requires a multifaceted approach. By implementing these strategies, the nation can work towards creating a more robust and rewarding teaching profession. The nationwide teacher shortage has left many classrooms understaffed, and New Jersey is one of the states working to address this issue.
Governor Phil Murphy is working to alleviate this problem affecting the state’s teaching shortage by enacting some new initiatives that are currently underway:
- Reducing barriers to entry: Governor Murphy has signed a bill that will waive the requirement for taking the Praxis. This includes eliminating the common core requirements and streamlining certification requirements and tests.
- Financial incentives: Student loan forgiveness programs and scholarships are being offered to attract aspiring teachers and make the profession more financially viable.
- Support for current teachers: Measures are being taken to improve working conditions and address teacher burnout. This involves providing mental health resources, reducing class sizes, or offering mentorship programs.
- Growing the pipeline: Programs are being implemented to encourage high school students to pursue teaching careers, such as “Grow Your Own” initiatives that target students from underserved communities. Hoping to gain potential teachers in their hometowns.
These are just some of the strategies being used to combat the teacher shortage. It’s a complex problem, but there’s hope that by working together, states and the federal government can make teaching a more attractive and rewarding profession.
On a smaller, more local scale, some schools in Camden have implemented a way to recruit new teachers in some of their high schools through their fellowship program. Uncommon Schools is a non-profit organization making charter and college prep schools in Camden. They are offering direct links for those with a bachelor’s degree to become teachers. Their fellowship offers college seniors the chance to gain teaching experience, a stipend, paid transportation and free housing. It’s a 7-10 week experience to help train those with bachelor’s degrees to fast track their way to becoming a teacher with 85% of their teaching fellows receiving a full-time teaching position within their schools.
Atlantic County is utilizing their substitute teachers and aiming to recruit them. Substitute teachers are required to have 30 college credits. In the Atlantic County area there is currently an offer for substitutes to take the praxis test or an alternative form of the test to gain their teaching certificate. With the substitute program it takes those who are already working up close and personal with students and turns them from temporary to permanent workers. This helps fill in the much-needed vacancies as many classes are sitting empty year-round.
Another great opportunity is coming from Stockton University as they are aiming to attract more people to pursue the teaching profession before they leave college. According to the Press of Atlantic City, Stockton is collaborating with NJHESAA to create two new initiatives.
One of those incentives is The New Jersey Teacher Loan Redemption Program, an incentive on student loan forgiveness. Where recently hired teachers in certain fields and areas can receive up to 20,000 in student loan redemption.
Another is the Student-Teacher Stipend Pilot Program, a stipend-based program for those who are currently student teachers can receive a 3,000 stipend for their participation and completion in student teaching. With all these incentives there is hope to increase the amount of people who are enrolling in colleges to become teachers.
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